Three housemates charged over Bendigo mum hammer murder

Housemates Ronald Lyons, Christine Lyons and Peter Arthur have been charged in relation to the death of Samantha Kelly. Picture: Nicole GarmstonSource:News Corp Australia

THREE housemates have been charged in relation to the murder of a Bendigo mother of four who was allegedly bashed to death with a hammer.

Samantha Kelly’s housemate Peter Arthur, 44, of Kangaroo Flat, was charged in an out-of-sessions court hearing on Friday night with her murder.

Their other housemates, Christine Lyons, 44, and Ronald Lyons, 43, were charged with being accessories to murder.

Samantha Kelly went missing on January 20.

Her body was found dumped in a shallow grave in a dry creek bed weeks later.

Police claim Arthur killed the 39-year-old mother-of-four with a hammer, before telling Christine and Ronald Lyons about it.

The Lyons allegedly took one of Ms Kelly’s children to a preschool on February 1 and enrolled her under another first name and their surname. Fairfax Media reported there have been suggestions Ms Kelly’s children have also had their heads shaved.

After the murder, Arthur and the Lyons allegedly took $3690 from Ms Kelly’s bank account over five transactions after she was killed.

Kangaroo Flat mother of four Samantha Kelly was last seen on January 20. Picture: Supplied.Source:Supplied

Murdered Bendigo mum Samantha Kelly. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

All three accused were remanded in custody to face the Bendigo Magistrates Court on February 15.

Kelly was last seen alive at the Kangaroo Flat shopping centre precinct about 3.20pm on January 20, just days before her daughter’s first birthday.

There were however some unconfirmed sightings of the 39-year-old between January 20 and 23.

Ms Kelly moved to the Victorian suburb less than six months ago with her four children: Hermione, 6, Ethan, 5, Indi, 4 and Annabella, 1.

“Her kids are her life,” the woman’s brother Michael told The Herald Sun earlier this week. “Something’s not right”.

Mr Kelly and his wife are now caring for the children.

The mother was living with several adults at the time but it was her NSW-based older brother who alerted police.

Mr Kelly told Fairfax Media two of the older children were called different names and claiming a different woman, Christine Lyons, was their mother.

Ms Lyons was one of the adults Ms Kelly was living with when she disappeared.

Two brothers are both fathers to Ms Kelly’s children and Fairfax Media reports Ms Lyons is related to them.